Apparatus for injuring nerve tissue

Abstract

Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect nerve tissue such that reinnervation is inhibited. The treatment systems are capable of delivering energy to nerve tissue in a target region such that at least a portion of the nerve tissue is replaced by scar tissue or otherwise altered to inhibit reinnervation in the target region.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT / US2012 / 058485, filed Oct. 2, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 543,759, filed Oct. 5, 2011, said applications being herein incorporated in their entireties by reference.BACKGROUNDTechnical Field[0002]The present invention generally relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for altering tissue, and more particularly, the invention relates to apparatuses or treatment systems for injuring nerve tissue.Description of the Related Art[0003]Pulmonary diseases may cause a wide range of problems that adversely affect performance of the lungs. Pulmonary diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (“COPD”), may lead to increased airflow resistance in the lungs. Mortality, health-related costs, and the size of the population having adverse effects due to pulmonary diseases are all substantial. These diseases often adversely affect q...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a method for treating nerve tissue in the airways to reduce airway resistance and prevent regrowth of the nerves. The method involves delivering energy to the nerves to injure them and prevent signals from passing through. The delivered energy can be adjusted to create desired lesions, and multiple sites can be targeted. The method can also involve using a hypertonic solution to increase the effective size of the ablation elements and controlling the temperature to shape lesions. Overall, the method can provide a safe and effective way to treat nerve tissue in the airways for therapeutic purposes.

Problems solved by technology

Pulmonary diseases may cause a wide range of problems that adversely affect performance of the lungs.

Mortality, health-related costs, and the size of the population having adverse effects due to pulmonary diseases are all substantial.

These diseases often adversely affect quality of life.

As the disease progresses, breathlessness may be noticed when performing non-strenuous activities, such as walking Over time, symptoms of COPD may occur with less and less effort until they are present all of the time, thereby severely limiting a person's ability to accomplish normal tasks.

Airway obstruction can significantly decrease the amount of gas exchanged in the lungs, resulting in breathlessness.

Alteration of structures around the airway, such as destruction of the lung tissue itself, can lead to a loss of radial traction on the airway wall and subsequent narrowing of the airway.

These conditions often cause widespread temporary tissue alterations and initially reversible airflow obstruction that may ultimately lead to permanent tissue alteration and permanent airflow obstruction that make it difficult for the asthma sufferer to breathe.

The destruction of alveoli tissue leaves areas of emphysematous lung with overly large airspaces that are devoid of alveolar walls and alveolar capillaries and are thereby ineffective at gas exchange.

This “trapped” air may cause over-inflation of the lung, and in the confines of the chest restricts the in-flow of oxygen rich air and the proper function of healthier tissue.

This results in significant breathlessness and may lead to low oxygen levels and high carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

Unfortunately, exposure to chemicals or other substances (e.g., tobacco smoke) may significantly accelerate the rate of tissue damage or destruction.

Breathlessness may be further increased by airway obstruction.

The reduction of radial traction may cause the airway walls to become “floppy” such that the airway walls partially or fully collapse during exhalation.

An individual with emphysema may be unable to deliver air out of their lungs due to this airway collapse and airway obstructions during exhalation.

It is often difficult for a chronic bronchitis sufferer to breathe because of chronic symptoms of shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness, as well as a mucus producing cough.

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